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British companies save nearly $156 billion each year if they adopt five sustainable productivity strategies, according to a report. The report urges new approaches to resource efficiency, transparency, consumer engagement and value creation.

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The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is being accused of using eco-labeling standards that are less rigorous than those applied by the Forest Stewardship Council. The small print in the SFI standard gives companies more wiggle room, critics say, and the existence of divergent standards makes it harder for consumers to figure out which products are eco-friendly. "[F]or environmentally conscious consumers without a Ph.D. in forestry, it can all be frustrating," writes Pamela Cuthbert.

A good sustainability report shouldn't just be about PR, writes Graham Sprigg. Instead, it should act as a kind of template or guidebook for improving the business, identifying long-term and short-term goals and areas for improvement. "[S]ustainability is a journey and a good report should guide you every step of the way," Sprigg writes.

Companies that lack a dedicated chief sustainability officer should consider tasking the chief information officer with furthering CSR goals, writes Mark Greenlaw. CIOs are already thinking about energy savings and efficiencies, and should have connections to every branch of the organization. "This trend [toward] increased disclosure and reporting leads to one of the most important roles for the CIO and IT in a company's sustainability journey: implementing new frameworks, strategies, technologies and tracking and reporting tools to help measure and manage a sustainability [program]," Greenlaw writes.

Clorox's latest earnings report reflects "softness" in the green-cleaning sector because recession-struck consumers are reining in their spending, company officials said. Still, the company believes consumers are gradually growing more inclined to buy green products, and will tweak its pricing but stand by its broader eco-friendly business strategy, said spokesman Dan Staublin. "We believe the fundamentals of the category and this sustainability megatrend are real, and the key, really, is to strike the right value proposition," Staublin said.

U.S. corporations lag in applying building technology in their buildings, according to a report by IBM, even though energy efficiency, productivity and other "smart" solutions can save money. For example, just 27% of respondents to the IBM survey said their buildings automatically adjust lighting and temperature based on the number of occupants.